Magic D’ Oro seeks fourth straight in Harvest Gold Plate
Magic D’ Oro goes for his fourth straight stakes win when he runs in the $50,000 Harvest Gold Plate at Northlands Park on Monday. His three previous wins came at Assiniboia Downs, and he will be trying to win at Northlands for the first time when he takes on a strong field in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that drew 10 horses.
Trained by Tanya Lindsay, Magic D’ Oro came close to winning in his only start at Northlands in the Harvest Gold Plate last year. Magic D’ Oro was very game in defeat. After dueling with and putting away Killin Me Smalls, he gave way grudgingly to lose by a neck to Silver Baubles, who came from last.
Magic D’ Oro was much the best in his three front-running wins at Assiniboia Downs and comes into the Gold Plate full of confidence. Lindsay said that might be an issue, though. He drew the outside post, with Ismael Mosqueira riding him for the first time.
“He’s actually fairly versatile,” said Lindsay. “But he is pretty full of himself after winning his last three races on the front end so easily that he might want to put himself on the lead.”
For Cash will try to atone for his defeat at the hands of Wild Legend in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap on Sept. 18. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, the Dale Greenwood-trained 4-year-old came from a stalking position and looked like the winner on the stretch turn. However, he couldn’t get past Wild Legend, who set the pace under pressure in the 1 1/16-mile race restricted to Alberta-breds.
Wild Legend was one of three stakes winners on the Fall Classic Day card for trainer Dale Saunders. The horse drew post No. 9 for Monday’s race, and it will be interesting to see if jockey Scott Williams guns him to the lead or tries to put him in a stalking position.
KEY CONTENDERS
Magic D’ Oro (Last 3 Beyers: 89-95-96)
◗ He’s improved since he almost won the Gold Plate last year, but he drew the outside post and will need a perfect ride from Mosqueira.
For Cash (Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-94)
◗ The top money earner in the field should get a perfect trip sitting off what figures to be a fast and contested pace.
Wild Legend (Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-87)
◗ He ran hooked every step of the way and still was able to repel For Cash’s late bid in the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap.